The scholar's cold voice hit the ground, and Wang Anfeng's expression hesitated slightly. Ci Yuan frowned, and Wu Changqing stroked his beard, then opened his mouth to persuade:
"Why must you be so obstinate, sir?"
"It's inevitable for Anfeng to go out. You can't…"
Scholar Ying glanced at him with contempt and sneered:
"Have I ever said that I forbid him from going out?"
The youth opened his mouth and asked:
"Then, are you granting me permission to study at the Academy, sir?"
Wu Changqing, who was on the side and got a headache from the scholar's reply, smiled wryly and interjected, "If sir has a better idea, why not share it openly…"
Scholar Ying, standing with his hands behind his back, said:
"I allow him to go to the Academy. He should see the world, understand scholarship."
"But he's not permitted to enroll in the Academy… the Academies of this world are meant to spread teachings to all under Heaven, and the rate at which they instruct their disciples is tailored to the average person."
His voice paused slightly, then he glanced at everyone, and his gaze landed on Wang Anfeng again as he sneered:
"The great swan mimics the sparrow, the lone wolf emulates the dog, the Flood Dragon like an insect treads in filth."
"Do you wish to mislead yourself?"
Wu Changqing pondered for a moment upon hearing this and nodded slightly, saying, "Perhaps that Mr. Jiang hopes that Anfeng can meet mentors and friends to alert himself. Not being aware of our presence would be sufficient to spare him the need for a teacher to unravel doubts. Although worldly matters differ, the principles, after all, are the same..."
"But without entering the Academy, how can he learn the scriptures of this age? There's much knowledge we can't teach."
"Stealing knowledge is a taboo anywhere."
Scholar Ying shook his head and said:
"In this age, Martial Arts reign supreme, and each sect values the mysteries of Martial Skills and the secrets of Heaven and Earth. Common scriptures, because of the diversity of the Noble Clans, are placed in the Academy, freely available for students to borrow."
Ci Yuan frowned and interrupted:
"But if the child is not a student, how can he borrow…"
Scholar Ying curved his lips into a cold smile and set his gaze on Wang Anfeng, saying:
"No, besides students, there is another type of person who may have access."
"Go work at the Academy."
"Not as a student, but as a long-term laborer."
"Guardian of the Academy's scriptures."
The youth was taken aback.
Guardian of the scriptures was an official position passed down from a thousand years ago, and when the Noble Clans established the Academy, they continued to use this title.
There are only nine true Guardians of the scriptures, suppressing the secret tomes of the entire world, their strength and knowledge unfathomably deep.
In the Academy, however, the Guardians of the scriptures are merely a respectful term for laborers tasked with guarding the various family's books. Since the Martial Skills tomes are kept elsewhere, what remains here are the various family's doctrines and various travel and miscellaneous books. Although the title is elegant, the position itself is hardly esteemed.
Wang Anfeng had no aversion to the role of a Guardian of the scriptures. Other Confucian scholar youths might find it hard to accept, but after an initial shock, upon reflection, he actually felt it wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have to interact daily with other students in the Academy and instead could spend his time borrowing books from every family; it seemed quite appealing.
He could also earn some Silver Coin.
Today, after practicing at the Shaolin Temple as usual, following a round of intensive training, Wang Anfeng bid farewell to the masters and returned to Great Liang Village. Scholar Ying stood with his hands behind him, watching the direction in which the youth left, slightly frowning, deep in thought.
The next day, after Wang Anfeng finished practising his Inner Strength, Scholar Ying called to him.
The scholar fell silent for a moment, then said:
"I have nothing to do today and feel inclined to practice Martial Arts."
"You must want to watch, don't you?"
The youth stood there in a daze, uncertain whether to agree or not, but eventually he nodded hesitantly. Mr. Ying glanced at him and turned to leave. Wang Anfeng followed the Scholar with a face full of confusion, accompanying him to another training ground on the mountain.
Upon reaching the training grounds, the Scholar casually tossed a green bamboo to him, its origins unknown, still wet with morning dew which made it feel cold to the touch.
The youth was still puzzled when Mr. Ying lifted the green bamboo in his hands and said coldly,
As his voice faded, Mr. Ying's eyes lost their luster, and before Wang Anfeng could fully perceive the movement, a fierce cold light burst forth. The green bamboo momentarily halted and then seemed to unleash a tangible torrent that followed its path, splitting the air ahead into two, compressing it with great force as if forming a viscous wave that silently parted to either side.
Birds caught in it flew erratically, and falling snow left no trace, all within the stillness of death.
On the bamboo, the morning dew remained undisturbed.
Several breaths later, the roaring and thunderous sound reached the youth's ears, and the violent air currents tore and howled. Even the aftermath caused his cheeks to sting. The Scholar waved his sleeve, and the raging storm ceased in an instant.
Underneath the youth's chest, his heart pounded wildly, only calming down after several breaths as he murmured,
"Is this...swordsmanship?"
Disgust flickered in Mr. Ying's eyes, as if wanting to say something, but he merely said,
It's the Art of Killing.
He fell silent again then added,
"You see my techniques are powerful, and you really want to learn? Do you want to ask me to teach you?"
Wang Anfeng looked at the tumultuous waves of energy in the distance, exhaled lightly, and nodded, saying,
Mr. Ying nodded in satisfaction and said,
"But I will not teach you."
Wang Anfeng was taken aback, but then he heard the Scholar's low voice, which reached straight into the depths of his ears,
"However, I will practice my Martial Arts here every day. This technique requires the unification of the three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit, concentrated on the weapon. You need to pay attention to…"
The youth was confused, not knowing why Mr. Ying had to teach him Martial Arts in such a roundabout way.
From the distant secluded peak, Wu Changqing saw everything and laughed,
"Mr. Ying's way of teaching Martial Arts is always the same…"
Ci stopped chanting and looked up, saying,
"He once said that unless Anfeng learns all his numerous skills, he would never teach him any Sword Styles... I don't know what he thought of yesterday that made him want to torment the lad ."
"This way, it's not him teaching Anfeng Martial Arts, but Anfeng stealing the knowledge…"
Wu Changqing laughed and remarked,
"The Master is truly an extraordinary person."
"You and I don't care about such things; Anfeng probably forgot them long ago... The Master is indeed stubborn."
Ci shook his head and sighed, "He never cared about us."
"He only cares about himself, his nature is so proud that he refuses to contradict even an offhand remark he's made."
"Yet he's so capricious that he wants to break even his own rules."
"That's why he could travel a thousand miles on the strength of a promise, kill amidst snow and drink his wine. He could also make enemies of the entire Martial Arts World without a care, cutting off the heads of Noble Clan members."
Wu Changqing was stunned for a moment then sighed, "Indeed peculiar…"
"His elegance is truly exceptional."
Thanks to Mr. Ying's 'guidance,' although Wang Anfeng could hardly grasp the single move he showed, he managed to imitate a semblance of it. After bidding farewell to his masters, he returned to the present world feeling somewhat relieved, but suddenly he heard roaring outside the door and was momentarily startled.
He rose and pushed open the door, only to see the bear already raising itself in a roar, its fur bristling, savage and ferocious. Yet in front of it stood a delicate little girl with clear and bright eyes, not even as tall as the bear. The Attendant was talking to someone outside the door, and upon seeing the scene, he let out a dreadful scream, but it was already too late.